"Unfortunately I can't go with you," Goddess said. "I'd love to see the look on his face when he realizes we're busting him out of his hell loop. The only way I can go with you is―"

"If you die," Michael finished.

"And who would bring me back then? Your father is plotting to destroy me; he wouldn't do it. I have to be especially careful in this...pathetic mortal flesh bag," she continued, over Michael's surprise. "So, you'll just have to zip down there and pop back up with him. Should be easy; he was always closest with you."

"Alright, fine, I do have some experience with hell after all," Michael sighed. "But when I come back, you're going to have to elaborate on Father trying to destroy you."

Goddess shrugged at him, smiling. "Sure."

Standing on the balcony of an otherwise empty Lux, Michael gave another reluctant sigh before spreading his dark wings. As he jumped off, Goddess turned to the balcony and placed her hands on the rail, watching him depart.

"I don't know why I'm here."

"Well―it's very simple, Cain," Lucifer said, with a slight sneer in his voice. "You're feeling guilty."

"No. I'm not. Everything I did was what I had to do."

"Well. Your brain may think that, but clearly your heart sees things in another perspective. Perhaps it's Abel. Hmm? Your brother. Surely being the world's first murderer weighs on your conscience just a smidge." He leaned forward, smiling at him with that evil glint in his eyes, despite his good intentions. "Tell me why you killed 'im in the first place. I'm just dying to know."

"I killed Abel because he was going to kill our parents. I don't regret it."

"Oh," Lucifer said flatly. "Well... Good job, then," he said, and paused to take a sip of his wine. "Mmm, but, do enlighten me; if you'd known you were going to end up here, would you have sought after your death?"

"No. And I wouldn't have wanted to die if I'd known I was going to heaven. Eternal life on earth or eternal life after death...not much of a difference. I'm still here, I still feel alive."

"Oh, but you're not. And neither are the ladies! You can finally settle down with someone."

"You don't think an eternity with one person would be just as boring as an eternity as a bachelor?"

"Well, not if you choose wisely!"

"Man, I don't know. I think I'd rather you tear my soul apart with the Flaming Sword."

"No, just...let it simmer. You have to think of the upsides! You already know the women here all have something in common with you. A guilty conscience."

"Makes perfect sense. Except for the guilt."

Lucifer sighed. "Oh, Cain. I can't help you if you're not willing to help yourself."

"I'll work on it. But―consider knifing me, okay? Please?" Cain asked, as he stood up.

"Fine, I'll consider! Now...get out of here, before you give me a devil of a headache."

Cain turned and went to the door, leaving the likeness of Linda's office.

Lucifer took another sip and checked his watch. He was still looking at it when there was a knock on his door. He looked up and forced a smile. "Sorry. Blame Cain for running late; he's been speaking in paragraphs longer than the Nile since he got here."

"No problem... I knew one of you would screw him over."

Uriel sat on the couch, folding his hands. "It was just a coin toss."

"I'm nothing like Dad."

"Amenadiel is. And now that he's God... What do you think will become of Cain?"

"I think you underestimate our brother, brother. He's not even ruling from the Silver City."

A knock at the door interrupted Uriel's response. Lucifer got up and walked to the door, about ready to scold his next patient for interrupting a session that had just started. Instead, he found himself staring at his own face. "Michael," he said brilliantly. "What are you doing here?"

"Mother sent me."

Lucifer began to laugh. "Back to the place she broke you out of? That's cruel, even for her."

"I'm not here as a prisoner. I'm here as a sheriff."

"Dearie me. I'm afraid you're lost; we're not hiring for those. Luckily you are in the right place for therapy."

"Mother sent me here to fetch Uriel, so that's what I'm going to do."

"Oh! I see now; you're an errand boy. Understood."

"Lucifer, our parents destroyed their universe. Now they're here. If Mother doesn't get Uriel, she could easily orchestrate something that harms Cleo."

"Chloe."

"Yeah. That's the point."

"Well, I certainly wouldn't anything to befall the detective... You realize if you let him go on earth, he won't be able to make it to heaven? That is what I spent the past thousand years trying to achieve, Mi-ki-el."

"Don't call me that."

"Call her Chloe, and I won't." Lucifer looked to his right side, opening an arm. Uriel came to Lucifer's side. "I think the boy's come a long way. Hate to see you ruin that. And for what, exactly? You're a little underqualified to steal my patients."

Michael's eyes flicked from one angel to the other. "You know, earth only exists because Father needed playthings. Why do we exist?"

Lucifer and Uriel exchanged a hesitant glance, each unable to maintain eye contact.

"Why were we cheated out of something as precious as childhood? It's important... Take Chucky for example; all the love he gets. Maybe all of the discord in our family was the result of us being created just the way we are. Much like the humans Mother hates so much, we are puppets."

"And here you are, dancing for her!" Lucifer exclaimed. "If you're as angry as you'd have us believe, you'd rebel."

"I can't do that."

"Oh, you're content being a puppet. Just tell me this, brother. Who's watching the show besides us?"

"Father's here, Lucifer. On earth, watching me. Making sure I don't wreak havoc. And I'm trying to behave because if he can destroy one universe, he could probably destroy another."

"So? You're Michael. Don't tell me you care about the humans."

"I care about me! And where would we go if the world ended? It's not like there's an alternate, alternate universe."

"That you know of," Lucifer said in exasperation. When Michael wouldn't surrender, he did, pushing Uriel closer. "Fine, take him out of hell. It's not like he interacted with humans anyway."

"Good. Come on, bro. It's about time you saw Mother anyway."

Lucifer stepped out into the hallway, following them through the hallways with an amused grin on his face.

"Although, I feel I should warn you. Changing universes is not the same as visiting from the Silver City. They couldn't retain their bodies, so they've taken on the shells of mortals."

"I've seen that before."

"You know, the humans say it's what's inside that counts," Lucifer piped up.

"Humans are absurd creatures...but certainly amusing," Michael muttered.

"Yes, well, remember what I said. If Mum prevents Uriel from going to heaven, I'm sure Dad will be...cross," Lucifer chuckled.

"How can you laugh at a time like this?" Michael demanded. "We are angels. We're not supposed to be destroyed, especially by our parents."

"That's funny. I thought we were playthings. 'His will be done,' and all that."

The trio came into a large rotunda, adorned with spire-cut onyx that hung from the ceiling and protruded from the ground. The furniture was black, and all of the paintings on the wall depicted scenes of gore, suffering, predators and their prey, and the seven deadly sins. The paintings all had a dark tint and a thick frame of ornate gold or silver. Upon entrance, through one of many large archways, all three of them automatically glanced up at the distant roof where the only exit was.

"Thanks for cooperating, Lucifer."

"Sure. Give Mum my best, eh?"

He watched Uriel and Michael awkwardly try to position themselves. Upon hearing Lucifer's chuckle, they glanced at him.

"Is that really the only reason you followed me?" Michael asked.

"Nope."

Michael opened his wings and took off, Uriel in his arms. Lucifer turned around with a sigh and waited a few short breaths before Michael and Uriel popped back into the round room through an entirely different archway. Looking horribly angry, Michael landed, releasing his brother's ghost.

"That is the reason I followed you," Lucifer clarified.

"What sort of games are you playing?"

"I'm not playing anything. Your punishment is still in effect. I may have been lax once with you, but not again. You can never leave here... And just as I am banished from heaven, my...escorts are banished from here. I refuse to let them interfere with my work."

"Oh, you mean the work they assigned you?" Michael asked. "You're not a rebel. You're the most compliant of all the angels!"

"How dare you."

Uriel's eyes alternated brothers; then he turned around and began walking.

"Where are you going?" Michael and Lucifer both asked at once.

"My cell. All this pointy shit? I'm already dead; I don't want to be a witness, too."

In their absence, Lucifer looked at Michael before slowly opening his snow-white, feathery wings. "I'm not a devil anymore," he said gently. "And I'm not doing our father's bidding. I am rebelling, in the worst possible way."

"Then you're certainly not an angel," Michael pointed out. "So, Lucifer...what are you?"

Lucifer hesitated, but said, "Your mind games won't work on me. There's nothing for me to feel guilty about."

"Good. You know, I'm glad you were able to overcome disappointing our parents, being a great role model for demons, and now...sending the worst of humanity up to where Charlotte and Dan are for all of eternity. Not sure I could have done that. And I'm me! But you... You're nothing."

Lucifer's eyes suddenly flashed red, as the devil in him woke.

"Ah, come on. I'm just ruffling your feathers. While you still have them," Michael added, as he followed the still-absent Uriel from the room.

Lucifer kept his back to him―flames rippling underneath his skin. Alone, he tried to quiet his snarling breaths. "Amenadiel, give me strength," he growled. He closed his eyes, feeling a responsive sense of calmness, and when he opened his eyes, they were dark again. He turned around and began the long, quiet walk back to his office.